Salmon returns down on Conne River

Closed to anglers for rest of the season

Conne River will not re-open to angling for the rest of the 2014 season, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) announced this week.

According to DFO Resource Manager Jason Simms, Conne River, which opens on June 21, is closed each year from July 5 to 8 to examine salmon counts and decide whether or not they will be able to open the river for the rest of the season.

Simms said this watershed management plan, which is part of a conservation strategy with the Miawpukek First Nation, has been in place for several years, and is unique to the Conne River.

“The conservation target is a count of 2,475 small salmon to go through the counting fence in order for the river to reopen,” he said. “The salmon count for around July 7 of this year was about 1,063 so we weren’t anywhere in range to meet that target. Based on that and in discussion with Miawpukek First Nation it was decided in order to follow our strategy we would not reopen the river.”